Trunk



C. T. WILT Dec. 23, 1924.

TRUNK Filed Feb; 8, 1923 77/7/6j7 ZOTl Chariea' 11mm Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

UITED STATES 1,520,044 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES 'I. WILT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILT TRUNK CO1VIPAI TY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,

TRUNK.

Application filed February 8, 1923. Serial No. 617,679.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. IVILT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to flattop trunks, and more particularly to that type of trunk used by traveling salesmen to carry sample garments and generally designated model trunks, as distinguished from trunks for personal use, call-ed wardrobe trunks, although it is adapted also to the latter type.

These trunks are built of two main sections or compartments, hinged together vertically, so that when stood on end, one section may be swung open laterally, as a door would open. The trunks are usuallymade forty-five inch-es inheight, outside measurement, to conform to the baggage regulations,

' as each inch in excess of forty-five inches lays the traveler open to an excess baggage charge equivalent to five pounds over the weight allowance. It is desirable, therefore, to have the utmost economy of usable space within a trunk of this height. It is also desirable to build the trunk sufficiently strong to sustain the load it carries as well as to withstand rough usage in transportation, as salesmen pack their samples very closely together in model trunks. garments are generally packed that it is inconvenient to show them to a prospective customer without taking them out of the trunk, unless an extension hanger fixture be used. In such event, the packed clothing, on individual hangers, may be moved length wise of the fixture over and along the extension support and spaced thereon.

In model trunks having a flat top, the clothes hanger fixtures are generally so ar ranged as to have two points of support. because the weight of the garments carried places such a strain and pull as to cause the flat top of the trunk to sag or bend Where a single central fixture is used. This weight also tends to bend the side walls, causing distortion of the meeting edges of the two trunk sections, and draws them out of alignment so that the trunk may not be properly closed and locked.

In fact, so many In some square end model trunks, and especially those designedly built greater than fort -five inches in height, it has been found necessary to connect the two vertical side walls of the main section by one or more horizontally disposed brace rods hingedly secured at their ends to the side walls and joined together by a turn-buckle for ad justment, after said main section has been filled with garments. This is an expense, as well as an annoyance to the salesmanuser.

The object of my present invention, therefore, is to produce a trunk having a flat top, so constructed and arranged as to utilize the maximum interior space, where a centrally located clothes hanging fixture is used, and which by its construction will obviate all of the above mentioned difficulties.

The invention consists in the devices and combination of devices herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the invention and one'form of trunk embodying the same.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trunk, opened to show the interior arrangement of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the clothes hanging compartment of the same.

Fig. 3 is a central, verticahsectional view of the frame work of the top of a trunk compartment built in accordance with, my invention.

Fig. 4 is a similar View, showing a modification.

In said drawings, the trunk has two compartments, A and B, hinged along one of their vertical margins at 1, so as to open and close in a familiar manner. The compart-' ment A comprises a bottom 2, two side walls 3, 3, a back wall 4, and top wall5. The compartment B has similar members, but as shown, may be shallower than the compartment A, and for the convenience of the user may or may not have hinged trays 6 and 7 Within the compartment A and secured in any suitable manner along the central or median line of the under side of the top 5 is a fixture C adapted to support and carry the hooks of clothes hangers D. To the outer end of the fixture C may be hinged an extention member or rod E, provided at its outer end with a hinged supporting standard F, resting upon a convenient base 3, together, at a point somewhat below the stop member5, and thus retain them in parallelism, I form a truss, the same being composed of the upwardly andinwardly inclined brace .members 8, 8. Each of these members extends fromthe back wall ,4: to the front margin of the two side walls-3, 3. Each is secured alongvitslower margin by rivets 9 or othersuitable means, to the side wall 3. Each ofthe ,brace members Sis similarly secured at its upper margin tothe top wall 5, one on each side of the central- .ly arranged fixtureC. Thus a brace comprising tw-o member-s 8, 8, and the intermediate part 10 of the top member 5, forms a truss,-whioh supports the downward pull caused by the weight upon thefixture C, supports the top 5 against inward distortion andties thetwo side members-3, 3, together to maintain parallelism of the said sides, and makes a firm and rigidconstruction. The triangular spaoe defined by the top 5, the members 8 and the upper part of theside wall 3, forms a convenient receptacle for a slidable drawer or compartment 11, for the reception of small articles of toilet or any other use to which it may be put.

Byreference to Fig. 2, more particularly, it will be noted that the hanger Drests in the upper part of the compartment A in such manner that clothes hung over the .arms of the hanger will be substantially in contact with the under surfaces of the brace ,members 8 of thetruss, thus preventing an undue swinging motion of the hanger D and the slipping oifof the garments therefrom, in the event thatthetrunk as a whole is accidentally or intentionally overturned or mishandled. This is avery desirable and important function of. the truss.

'It willbe understood, ofrcourse, that in those forms of'trunk where the compartment B is utilized, without trays 6 .and 7, for the hanging of garments, the compartment will be similarly fitted with, afixture C. As shown in.Fig. 1 thecompartment B is provided with the sametruss. arrange- .ment as: the compartment A, and the space in thelupper part of the compartment B, a bovethe' tray 6, will beconveniently used :for storing hats or other ,articles.

manufacturer.

end of the open compartment, of a truss; and

modifications will suggest themselves to the For example, one such modification is shown in Fig. a, where the truss is composed of a single, curved brace member 12, instead of straight ,members 8,

similarly secured at the lower ends to the side walls 3, and whichmay besecured to the top 5 by the same fastening means used for holding the fixture C to the top 5.

.I claim as my invention:

.1. A flat top trunk having an open, face compartment, a clothes hanger fixture secured alongthe median line of the top wall of said compartment, two chordmembers secured, one toeach .side wall of the compartment, inclined upwardly ,to and secured to the top Wall, saidinclined members, theside walls and the :top forming a truss to bind the .side walls, together and, to sustain weight on the v.top wall.

2. In a flat top trunk having two compartment members hinged together, one member having top, bottom, back and two side walls and open at the front, a clotheshanger fixture secured along the median line of the top wall, and two brace members attached to the side member-s inclined upwardly toward and secured to the top wall at either'side .of ,said fixture and forming with the intermediate part of .the fiat top an interior truss to sustain the weight on .the fixture and to hold the .side wall members together.

3. In valfiat top trunk having two .compartment members hinged together, one member having top, bottom, back and two side walls and open at the front, .a clotheshanger fixture secured along the median .brace member.

.In. testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my nvention I aflix my signature, in the presence .oftwo w.itnesses,othis 10th. day of January, 1923.

CHARLES T. VVILT. Witnesses:

TAYLOR BROWN, B. ,L. MAoG neoR. 

